Washington (CNN) - In an about-face, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has decided to review the criteria of a recently created "drone award" that ranked achievements in related warfare and other modern combat skills above the most noted recognition for bravery on the battlefield.

The Distinguished Warfare Medal, which was approved last month by Hagel's predecessor, Leon Panetta, recognizes "extraordinary direct impacts on combat operations." But the honor denotes that the action is not bound by a "geographic limitation," meaning drone operators could be eligible.

(CNN) - Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Missouri, said even though her recent security pat-down at the airport was uncomfortable, she's glad that someone like her, a senator, goes through the screenings so they can see what the process is like for other passengers.

"The rules need to be the same for everyone and if more of us had that exposure to the system, perhaps we would be more aggressive about making sure that we're using our resources wisely when it comes to safety of the public," McCaskill told CNN on Capitol Hill.FULL POST

Washington (CNN) - She's come under criticism from a couple of conservative groups, but Rep. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia will be speaking at a major conservative conference later this week.

The American Conservative Union announced Tuesday that Capito, who's running next year for her state's open U.S. Senate seat, will speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference. The event, known as CPAC, is one of the oldest and largest yearly gatherings of conservative leaders and activists from across the country.FULL POST

Washington (CNN) – The caption could read: "A party ain't a party till Mitt Romney eats his fluffernutter cake."

On Tuesday, Romney had his cake – and ate it too – as he celebrated his birthday. Eldest son Tagg Romney put out pictures of his father, apparently in full office party mode, on the social media site Instagram.FULL POST

(CNN) - White House press secretary Jay Carney Tuesday sharply rejected a statement that reportedly came from a senior White House official, who told a Washington news outlet that the president's recent charm offensive with Republicans "is a joke" and a waste of time.

"I have no idea who said that," Carney said. "But I can tell you that opinion has never been voiced in my presence, in the president's presence, in the West Wing. It does not represent the president's view, it does not represent the White House's view, and it does not represent the administration's view."FULL POST

(CNN) - It's only March of 2013, but Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is going up with the first TV commercial of his 2014 re-election bid.

The Kentucky Republican's campaign confirms to CNN that they'll begin running a television spot starting Thursday. The campaign characterizes the spot as positive and that it will have "a female focus to it." The campaign says they're spending six-figures to run the commercial for a week in the Louisville and Lexington markets, which cover most of Kentucky.FULL POST

(CNN) - Two new political ads in the Massachusetts special election emerged Tuesday, with both Democratic candidates releasing their first television commercials of the campaign.

Longtime Rep. Ed Markey, considered the leading contender in the Democratic primary race, made gun control the focus of his inaugural ad, emphasizing his fight against the National Rifle Association.FULL POST